Newly political Peter Leitch – timing is everything

There’s been a dose of opprobrium directed towards a Labour MP Darien Fenton for her Facebook comments (yawn) in reaction to ‘The Mad Butcher’ businessman/philanthropist Sir Peter Leitch publicly endorsing the National Party in the lead up to the General Election.

Some of Labour’s political enemies have sought to make it a litmus test, describing criticism of Saint Sir Peter and his effusive endorsement of National and implied public criticism of Labour as ‘class warfare’.

Even the NZ Heraldeditorial today implied Ms Fenton’s comments were a ‘cringeworthy and callous’ political clanger and her statement (on Facebook!) that she would choose ‘not to buy stuff from those who support Tories’ as ‘petulance’ against ‘a working man selling his meat in working-class areas for more than a generation’, someone, the anonymous Herald writer said, who ‘despite his own wealth … has stronger blue-collar credentials than Ms Fenton and her Opposition backbenchers combined.’ (Purple, huh?)

For Ms Fenton, though, his [Leitch’s] broadcast utterances were political treason. That any member of the country’s working class could speak well of a “Tory” leader is anathema. Unthinkable. Unforgivable. [Comment: Note these are the NZ Herald’s word’s, not Ms Fenton’s.]
The Mad Butcher was shocked by her withering personal rejection and the attempt to denounce him for saying what he thinks. His former butchery business was also stunned by an inference some had taken that a Labour MP was calling for a boycott of the Mad Butcher stores, many of them in rock-solid Labour seats.
The Fenton comments would have been politically dumb and personally reprehensible at any time, given Sir Peter’s record for serving the communities the MP purports to represent.
But her timing, amid Sir Peter’s well-publicised but tentative recovery from cancer and the joy of all league fans at the Warriors’ late season success, was particularly damaging. The general election is in less than two months. Her party is at historic lows, Mr Key’s National Party at historic highs in the opinion polls.

Now, there’s a part of comments from the nameless editorial writer at the NZ Herald that I completely agree with: ‘The general election is in less than two months.’

Yes indeed. And in that context, ‘working class hero’ Peter Leitch’s highly-charged political comments (or merely ‘saying what he thinks’ according to the faceless Herald writer) must, surely, amount to election campaigning. Do they?

I’m a fan of Mr Leitch’s and actually heard the radio interview when it was broadcast on 19 September. I recalled Mr Leitch’s comments going considerably further that the unnamed NZ Herald writer’s vapid and anemic characterisation: ‘…saying on Radio New Zealand that he liked and backed National’s John Key.’

Listen to what Mr Leitch ACTUALLY said for yourself … and see what you think. Here are four brief extracts (total 3:45) from the full 31 minute Eight months to Mars interview between Radio NZ National’s Jim Mora and Sir Peter Leitch.

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And here’s a transcript of the key extract — the fulsome/damning (depending on whether you’re a National/Labour supporter) ‘public endorsement’:

Peter Leitch: Jim, can I say this to you and your listeners: I’ve never been involved in politics in my life. Never. This year, I’ve become very focussed on this election because I think the election will be the biggest election of our life — in my time. And I’m a great supporter of John Key’s. I’m a great supporter and I’m publicly supporting him now and I’ve never done that in my life.
Helen Clark was a very good friend of mine but I never come out and endorsed her. But I think this election is so important that people like me need to make a stand. You know? Because I think it’s — Christchurch, Pike River. You know, my father was from the West Coast so you know I know about mining. It’s really set us — it’s set the country back Jim, big time.
Jim Mora: Some of those Christchurch Labour MPs have done a good job though.
Peter Leitch: I’m not questioning that. I’m talking about running the country, Jim.

National Party agony aunt Cameron Slater ‘reports‘ that Sir Peter telephoned him and expressed ‘deep hurt’ that he’d been criticised for these comments, even saying he felt he’d been ‘stabbed in the back’.

But just for a moment put yourself in Labour’s shoes. Working class hero and former ‘good friend’ of Labour PM Helen Clark goes on National radio and publicly takes a dump on them, just before an election. Ask yourself: Who is stabbing whom in the back?

Peter Leitch says he’s ‘surprised and hurt’. But please read the transcript: During a 30 minute appearance on radio, he announced that he was now taking a step he’d never taken before: to become involved in politics and endorse a political party in the lead up to an election. The Mad Butcher (everybody’s mate) did this against type, you could say — in a context where he and his interviewer were making much of his working class ‘little people’ roots and influence. Come on.

Now I’m NOT saying Peter Leitch who has a long history of good works and sporting & charitable contributions, has become some sort of ‘class traitor’. Like all of us, he’s entitled to his opinions, to change his mind, and to express his views. (But the same freedom goes to Darien Fenton, too, surely? Or is that an inconvenient question?)

By golly customers, Peter Leitch HAD to expect his highly political public statements would spark a reaction. At the very least he had to expect people would express surprise at the Mad Butcher’s deliberate (or naive?) foray into party politics … and his blatant attempt to use his reputation and prestige to influence an election just two months away.

11 Comments »

I have no problem with a high profile NZer using his position to support a political party and his customers have every right to respond as they feel appropriate.

If Darien Fenton feels outraged that, too, is her right. However she is also a “high profile NZer” despite having spent years in NZ Parliament and never making it onto my radar before.

What dismays me is that a politician with so many years experience could respond so poorly to feedback.

From what I understand she posted on facebook that she wasn’t impressed and when a fuss was made she didn’t just delete the comment – she closed her account!

That shows an incredible naivety on her part. Facebook Innocents foolishly accept anyone and everyone as friends and don’t add them to “lists” so that they can control who sees what.

In my opinion she should have had her “account”, a “page” for her role as MP and posted MP stuff to the page, personal stuff to her own wall. Friend request from “randoms” (as my daughter would call them) would be directed to her professional page.

I’ve never seen the need for Social Media Training in the past but this incident has made me realise that what seems logical to me isn’t for others.

So – two pieces of advice, one from me, and one that stays true through the ages
★ Only add people as friends if you really happy for them to know about what you get up to.
★ If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing

Yes, I have no problem with Peter Leitch using Jim Mora’s radio show as a platform for a political endorsement. (I detected a little discomfort on Jim’s part, however, and the station may have an issue of ‘balance’ to consider.)

The ‘controversy’ over MP Ms Fenton’s response — and the perhaps political clumsiness of it — seemed over the top, though, as if Peter Leitch somehow was a ‘saint’ and beyond criticism … or untouchable. Nonsense.

That his comments were openly, overtly party political seems beyond doubt to me. His effusive praise for the rugby-league-loving-writes-to-us-every-month-EVERY-WEEK prime minister was a political act, and he recognised that in the comments I transcribed. He knew it was a departure, and must have surely expected a reaction.

As I said, I like Mr Leitch, and have encountered him in person where I found him sincere, savvy and attentive to others in a brilliant way. He deserves his success and good luck to him.

But pouring his heart out to Labour-basher Cameron Slater and making his feelings public about the inevitable backlash he would experience for switching sides in such a way was another political act.

—

Yeah, social media can be a minefield.

What I notice is that political enemies leap on each others’ Facebook and blogged comments in a weaponized way … and with feigned and selective ‘outrage’.

You are so far, the only person who has presented a much fairer view of the situation.

It was a political call on Leitch’s part – and he’s been making those calls steadily since he got his knighthood. Doesnt take away from his status or that he deserved the knighthood (in my opinion) – but its the way it has appeared to many people. Darien Fentons mistake was she said it in public and she is a politician – which only added to the mistake.

Lot of working class people buy meat from the Mad Butcher shops – its perhaps important to consider Key and his Governments impact on those people too.

Listening to the Jim Mora interview in which Peter Leitch disclosed that the prime minister had been writing to him *every week* (or so he said), I was surprised … and wondered at the time and energy Mr Key [apparently] invested in cultivating the Mad Butcher as a ‘friend’.

… and, dare I say it, wondered if perhaps Darien Fenton’s description of Mr Leitch as a ‘sycophant’ might have been directed at the wrong person?

You wouldnt be the only one wondering that Peter. The level of sycophantism being thrown around from the media toward a certain prime minister and the manner in which that certain prime minister seems to increasingly believe himself invulnerable is becoming sickening to me personally. But then im one of those people who simply find it difficult to regard currency traders and merchant bankers as people who actually have contributed anything of any real value to anyone. Leitch is an actual contributor. Key however strikes me as a “leech” attaching himself to others gravitas and dignitas – feeding off same.

Well, I’d say we see Mr Key differently, Ivan.
He is, unquestionably in my view, a superb political salesman who has walked a very fine line not frightening the horses, while overseeing incremental changes and shoring up support for more. He’s a pragmatist. (Groucho Marx: “Those are my principles. If you don’t like them I have others.” )

In person Key appears to be likable, appropriate and easy going (unless talking about Nicky Hager) … he’s inoffensive to ‘the average kiwi – men & women – and seems to be the recipient of a tremendous amount of goodwill and political capital. That profile in the SST (Teflon John Key) indicated he realizes that when the popular tide turns, all his strengths will be perceived as weaknesses.

‘Leech’ — haha very punny. No. I disagree. Key has contributed a lot — and given the National Party a populist leader for the first time in decades. – P

Cool Peter – i note you dont spell out what key has contributed (understandable in the context of a short reply) … apart from being a populist. I would be interested in knowing what Key has actually contributed.

Personally i see him as playing to our weaknesses. I think that what the National Party needs is not a populist leader – what i think it does need is probably not printable – and likely either illegal or anatomically impossible – certainly painful.

I compare him to Peter Sellers character in the movie “being there” … Chance the Gardener – renamed by others as Chauncey Gardner. Simplicity itself. Everyone sees it and interprets it accordingly.

There may even be a little bit of the central character of “catch me if you can..” thrown in there as well.

But thats enough Hollywood for one night. Thanks for the comments and very easy to read posts Peter.

Oh, here’s Russell Brown saying it even tougher (emphasis added by me) about the ‘weekly’ letters from John Key to Peter Leitch …

… Leitch (always untameable broadcast talent) recently compromised both Jim Mora’s show and Close Up with his unprompted barracking for Key. … And Key’s sudden and overwhelming affection for rugby league, the NRL, the Warriors and the Butcher is, let’s be frank, craven. You realise, do you not, that Helen Clark was patron of the Mt Albert Rugby League Club since forever? …

[…] harumph, that’s the very same show that Mad Butcher Peter Leitch used as a platform for his extraordinary political and personal endorsement of the same John Key. Interesting, huh? Will Martyn seek change his name to […]

[…] Mora show’s already tenuous hold on a semblance of political neutrality following Mad Butcher Peter Leitch’s John Key fan club president speech during the butcher’s Eight months to Mar appearance on the […]

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